Briana Blandamer is the new intern for FortScott.Biz. Her focus is Fort Scott Community College.
Blandamer is an FSCC sophomore business major, who is a 2017 graduate of Fredonia High School.
Blandamer wanted to intern to get writing experience, and she will use that experience when she applies to law school in the future, she said.
Ideas for features for Blandamer can be sent to [email protected].
Click below for the Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office daily reports. They can be reached at (620) 223-2380.
“Count the Kicks” goal is to save 60 Kansas babies every year, reduce stillbirth rate by 26 percent
TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) announced today that it has partnered with Count the Kicks, a proven stillbirth prevention public health campaign. Kansas vital statistics show that 232 stillborn babies are born each year in our state. The introduction of Count the Kicks in Kansas has the potential to save 60 babies every year if Kansas’ stillbirth rate decreases by 26 percent, as has happened in neighboring Iowa where the campaign began.
Count the Kicks teaches the method for and importance of tracking fetal movement in the third trimester of pregnancy. Scientific studies show that expectant moms should track their baby’s movements once a day in the third trimester and learn how long it normally takes their baby to get to 10 movements. Moms will start to notice a pattern, a normal amount of time it takes their baby to get to 10. If “normal” changes during the third trimester, this could be a sign of potential problems and an indication to call their provider.
“We are excited to provide physicians, partners and pregnant women across the state full access to Count the Kicks materials,” said Rachel Sisson, KDHE Bureau of Family Health Director. “KDHE’s Bureau of Family Health remains committed to collaborative efforts to support the healthiest outcome for mothers and infants.”
Through KDHE, maternal health providers, birthing hospitals and social service agencies throughout Kansas can order FREE Count the Kicks educational materials at www.countthekicks.org to start using these materials in their practices right away. Moms everywhere can download the FREE Count the Kicks app, which is available in the Google Play and iTunes online stores. The app, available in English and Spanish, allows expectant moms to monitor their baby’s movement, record the history, set a daily reminder, count for single babies and twins. The app already helped save seven Iowa babies in the past year.
This project is supported by KDHE with funding through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), under grant number #B04MC31488 and title Maternal and Child Health Services.
The Fall Town-Wide Garage Sale is coming up next month, September 14th and 15th.
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce encourages residents of Fort Scott and Bourbon County to have a sale and start their fall cleaning or make room for something new.
Sales may be registered through the Chamber by 1 pm, Wednesday, September 13th for only $10. The registration fee lists your sale on the official garage sale map and enables the Chamber to advertise the sale throughout the region on the radio, newspaper, social media and the Chamber website.
In addition to the garage sale registration, the Chamber of Commerce is selling twelve advertising spots on the map to businesses and organizations, $25 for a small block and one larger block is available for $40. These blocks of advertisement are a great way for businesses and organizations to promote an upcoming event, discount or offer a coupon to garage sale shoppers.
Garage sale listings and block advertisements may be placed in person at the Chamber office, 8am-5pm Monday through Friday at 231 E. Wall Street or by phone using debit or credit card by calling (620) 223-3566.
For those of you waiting for Arby’s Restaurant completion, it is coming.
“Although I can’t provide you with an exact date for our Grand Opening in Fort Scott, I’m told that we are indeed on track for a mid-September opening,” said Fred Fleischner, Vice President, Corporate Communications, United States Beef Corporation.
“We have hired a General Manager,” Fleischner said. “Her name is Cassandra Bosley from Fort Scott.”
“We still have openings we’re looking to fill,” he said.
The restaurant is located on South Main in what was the former Kentucky Fried Chicken Restaurant.
Arby’s is holding interviews every Tuesday afternoon, from 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm at the Sleep Inn & Suites conference room at 302 E. Wall Street in Fort Scott.
“We’ll be there for at least the next 2-4 weeks until our restaurant is closer to completion,” Fleischner said. “Those wishing to apply for work at this new Arby’s restaurant can also do so online at www.work4arbys.com.”
The contractor for the project is Coast to Coast Builders, Wichita.
This is part of a series of profiles of new teachers in our community.
Dr. Heather Davis is the new biology instructor at Fort Scott Community College.
Name: Dr. Heather Davis
Title of position: Biology Instructor, Fort Scott Community College
Education: Fort Scott High School 2006, Associate of Science- Cowley College 2008, Bachelor of Science in Biology- Pittsburg State University 2010, Master of Science & Doctor of Chiropractic- Logan College 2014
Experience: No prior formal teaching experience, but extensive education and background in the sciences.
Age: 30
Family: Husband-Dr. Grant Hartman, children-Zoey (age 2) and Zeke (age 3 months), late father-Tom Davis, mother-Cindy Davis, parents-in-law- Brad and Robin Hartman, Grandparents-in-law-the late Ron Billiard and Karen Billiard.
Affiliations:
“I have been in private practice with my husband at Hartman Spine & Joint for three years practicing functional medicine, which relies extensively on knowledge of human biology, anatomy, physiology, laboratory evaluation, nutrition and performance. While I will still be practicing part time, I am excited to start my teaching career.”
Why did you choose education as a career?
“I found that in private practice, I was teaching patients one-on-one every single day, something I did not realize would happen to this extent. I finally recognized my passion for teaching and, paired with my love of science, formal teaching just made sense. It is also a way for me to be more involved in the community, develop relationships, influence more people, and be involved in something bigger.
What is the first on your list of priorities for the position?
“Ensure each and every student in my classroom develops a basic understanding of the world around them, lead more students to the sciences, and foster relationships with local high schools to enable students to work ahead.”
This is part of a series of new teachers in our community.
Alex Mason is a new Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Technician Training and Development Program instructor at Fort Scott Community College.
Name: Alex Mason
Title of position: Harley-Davidson Instructor
Education: AAS FSCC Harley-Davidson
Experience: Technician at Gail’s Harley-Davidson, Grandview MO
Age: 28
Family: Wife is Holli Mason, a daughter, Lucy. Parents are Steve and Kendell Mason.
Why did you choose education as a career?
“This is an opportunity for me to apply my skill set closer to home, so I may spend more time with my family.”
What is the first on your list of priorities for the position?
“Implementing my experience at an H-D dealership in order to help create better-prepared technicians for the field.”
The is one of a series of profiles of new teachers in our community.
Abby Stepps is a new Fifth Grade Teacher at Eugene Ware Elementary School.
Name: Abby Stepps
Title: 5th Grade Elementary Teacher
Education: Fort Scott Community College and at Pittsburg State University, with a Bachelor’s of Science in Elementary Education.
Experience: She began teaching in 2009 in Nevada, MO. Taught in Fort Scott in 2012 one year, then Nevada in 2013 until the present.
Family: Husband, Trent Stepps, a Fort Scott Alumni and has two “beautiful daughters.”
Why did you become an educator?
“I once had a teacher make me feel as though I could conquer the world. She made me feel important and a part of something bigger than I was. Inside her classroom, I could be myself and at the same time anyone/anything I wanted to be, she IS the reason I chose education as my career, Mrs. Scott, 4th grade, in Neosho, Missouri.”
What is first on your list of priorities for the position?
“I hope to bring a feeling of newness and rigor to the 5th-grade crew at Eugene Ware. I am very excited to be working with such great teachers! This year will be wonderful!”
TOPEKA, Kan. – Thousands of vehicles will be traveling the Kansas roadways during the Labor Day weekend. Many families will head out on one last camping trip or getaway as the school year begins. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) Safe Kids Kansas, State Farm and the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) want to encourage families to buckle up and drive safely to protect their most valuable asset, their families.
From Aug. 26 through Sept. 9, a safety belt awareness campaign called “Bucks for Buckles” is being held in 56 cities across Kansas. One dollar bills are being distributed by local volunteers to drivers who have all occupants buckled up securely in their vehicle. Those riding unrestrained will receive educational materials about the effectiveness of seat belts and child safety seats in saving lives and reducing injuries.
“No one can predict when they will be involved in a motor vehicle crash, yet almost all of us will be involved in an automobile crash in our lifetime. Last year, 382 people lost their lives on Kansas roadways and 50 percent of them were unbuckled,” said Cherie Sage, State Director for Safe Kids Kansas. “The single most effective means of protecting the lives of you and your passengers are wearing seat belts and using appropriate child restraints every time you ride in the vehicle – even short distances.”
Local Agent Kale Nelson with State Farm Insurance will be participating in this program to promote wearing seatbelts, in both Fort Scott and Uniontown.
Exact dates will not be announced.
One dollar bills are being distributed by local volunteers to drivers who have all occupants buckled up securely in their vehicle.
Click below for the Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office daily reports. They can be reached at (620) 223-2380.
